Week 17: Tacos, Car Mods, First Solo Drive, and a Teen Birthday Bash

Family Dinners 52–55

By Allison Lloyd, Parent Coach & Child Advocate

Let me tell you something about Week 17 of our 100 Family Dinners project: it was A. WEEK. The kind of week that was packed, emotional, messy, and beautiful all rolled into one. And yet, through all of it, we still managed to gather around the table four times. That’s not nothing. That’s everything.

🍽️ Dinner #52 – Tacos on a Monday

Monday, May 5. I fully ignored Taco Tuesday and made tacos on Monday because I’m not a great cook. (And let’s be honest, I make a lot of tacos.) The kitchen smelled like cumin and salsa, and we chatted our way through dinner. Nothing fancy just the three of us, together, which is the point anyway.

🚗 Dinner #53 – Phoenix Adventures & a Left-Footed Gas Pedal

Wednesday was a big day. My son and I drove down to Phoenix to get his car adapted with a left-foot gas pedal, a major step toward independence. As a stroke survivor, he can't drive with his right foot, so this was a meaningful and emotional milestone. We spent the day together visiting Grand Canyon University, his dream school. He gave me a tour of campus (reluctantly, but still), and I got a glimpse of the future he’s building for himself. We didn’t have a traditional dinner at home that night, but we sat down for lunch and connected in a way that only long car rides and a shared Chick-fil-A can create. We picked up the meal and drove it home to sister. The three of use sat down to slitly chilled food and had a really great evening.

🚙 Dinner #54 – The First Drive Without Me

Thursday morning hit me in the gut: my son and daughter drove to school together for the very first time without me. I cried. For the first time in years, I wasn’t the one dropping them off or picking them up. That night, with a little more time and space on my hands, I made a stir-fry. We sat, we ate, and we talked. It wasn’t fancy, but it was meaningful. Sometimes the most ordinary dinners are the ones that leave a mark.

🎉 Dinner #55 – A Birthday, a Sleepover, and Chicken Alfredo

Saturday was my daughter’s 14th birthday, and we went all out: breakfast of her choice, lunch of her choice, and a sleepover party with dinner for her and her friends. I made chicken Alfredo and insisted we all sit down, friends included, for a family-style meal. Because even when there’s a party, even when it’s loud and wild and full of cake and confetti, dinner together still matters.The girls laughed, shared stories, and joined in our usual dinner rhythms. It reminded me that connection isn’t just for quiet evenings at home. It’s for the joyful chaos, too. Especially when we sang happy birthday around a red velvet cake.

💬 Real Talk: Why This All Matters

Every week, I’m reminded of why I started this project. Sitting down to eat together—whether it’s takeout nuggets or homemade stir-fry it is how I stay connected to my kids. It’s how I learn what they’re thinking, what they’re struggling with, what’s making them laugh. It’s where I see who they’re becoming. And in the teen years, where everything moves fast and moods shift hourly, this dinner table is where I slow it all down.

Even when it’s not perfect. Even when it’s fast food. Even when I’m exhausted. Because it’s not really about the food. It’s about showing up.

And honestly? That’s what our kids will remember.

To all the moms out there juggling sports schedules, orthodontist appointments, college tours, and birthday sleepovers; your effort matters. Every dinner you show up for counts. Every time you say, “Let’s eat together,” you’re anchoring your family in something steady and sacred.

So here’s to more dinners; messy, meaningful, and everything in between.

See you next week. 💛